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“I’m not doing this,” Jeff said as he walked up the stairs.
He slammed his bedroom door with complete disregard for his drunken, enraged father. He was fed up with this. Every time his father touched a glass of whiskey or a bottle of beer, he became satan himself. And every time, Jeff or his brother wound up getting their asses kicked for it. That or Jeff would take his old man to the backyard and beat him out like an old rug. Tonight he wasn’t doing any of that. He was tired of fight after fight with his dad and then bailing to a hotel with his mother and brother for the next two days.
He tossed out all his school supplies from his backpack and shoved in changes of clothes that would last him a week or so. He also tossed a few hygiene products in before he zipped up his bag.
A knock came at his bedroom door. Jeff quickly looked over his shoulder.
“It’s just me.” The identical voice on the other side assured.
“Come in.” He nodded.
The door creaked open, and Liu stepped in. Jeff could tell he was all shaken up. He always was after they had their brawls.
“Where you goin’?” Liu asked.
“A friend’s place.” Jeff adjusted the back on his back.
“Please don’t go,” Liu begged.
Jeff stopped and looked at Liu. He would see the tears in his brother’s eyes. It hurt. It hurt even worse that he knew he couldn’t stay.
“I can't,” He pursed his lips.
“Please! Just for Christmas. That’s all I want. Just two more days, and then you can go.” His brother bargained.
“Liu, come on. You know if I stay, all that’s gon’ end up happenin’ is more fightin’. I don’t wanna make mama cry, and I don’t wanna have the cops called.” Jeff reasoned.
Liu collapsed in his arms, crying into his shirt. Jeff tensed his lower lip, leaning his head on his brother’s shoulder to cry a bit himself. He felt so shitty. Jeff couldn’t help but blame himself. Maybe if he’d just kept his head down and bit his tongue, nothing would’ve had to happen. But no, he just had to go ahead and try his dad.
“Promise me somethin’?” Jeff asked as he patted Liu’s back.
“Yeah…” The other breathed.
“You’re gon’ stay here, and you’re gon’ make sure he don’t hurt mama. If he does, you call me, then call the cops before I kill that motherfucker. You got it?”
“Got it..”
“Good. Now I’ll text you when I get to where I’m goin’. I ain’t taking the truck, and here are the keys if you need ''em’.” He stepped back to hand Liu his car keys.
Liu nodded, reaching out to hug his twin one last time before he left out the window. Maybe that’s why they call them window panes. It hurts the most when that’s the only way to get out.
Jeff dropped into the bushes with a grunt, shaking off the pin and needles to get to his bike. He lifted the kickstand and adjusted his slippers so they’d stay on better before he burned rubber down the sidewalk. Jeff skidded to a hard stop and recklessly threw the bike into the front yard. He walked up to the house and glanced up at a window. With a sigh, he stood on the trashcan and vaulted himself onto the roof shingles. Cheerleading had its payoffs.
“Open the fucking window Warren.” He demanded as he knocked hard on the glass.
The window opened up shortly after.
“The fuck are you up for? It’s eleven o’clock at night!” His red-headed companion whisper yelled.
“Daddy issues.” Jeff huffed as he pushed Randy back and crawled through. “I can’t stay there.”
“Geez, he really musta pissed you off this time, eh?” The Yankee raised a brow.
“Damn right he did.” Jeff croaked as he took a seat on Randy’s bed.
Randy took the spot beside him. The ginger looked down at him, slightly concerned.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“I don’t even know how to get it out.”
“Hug?” Randy offered as he lifted a freckled arm.
Jeff instantly took shelter under his embrace. He choked out tears and sobs he’d bed holding in for the last half hour. Randy pulled his body close and rubbed circles into Jeff’s back to calm him down. Randy had never thought of himself as a good guy. He liked to flaunt the fact he wasn’t. But he’d be damned to be a bad friend. Randy never got loyalty from his family, but his friends would give the skin off their knees to heal his injuries.
And he knew Jeff’s loyalty would get him killed one day if he wasn’t careful to who he devoted it. That’s what scared him.
“Hey, hey, I got you. You’re ok.” He squeezed.
“That fucker- ruined my goddamn Christmas!” Jeff snapped.
“I know. I know.” Randy sighed as he laid back with Jeff still held to his chest.
“Can I stay?” Jeff whimpered.
“There’s always my side of the bed open for you, man. I got you no matter what, aight?” Randy said as he lifted Jeff’s head to face him.
“Mhm..”
“Everything I got is yours too. I’m not goin’ away. I’m right ‘round the corner.”
Jeff shuddered and let a few more tears slip from his bloodshot eyes.
“You’re my best friend, and I love you,” Randy affirmed.
“I love you too.” Jeff sobbed into Randy’s chest.
Randy hushed and comforted Jeff until no tears were left. The pair cuddled in the dark together. Their limbs occasionally shifted around to get comfortable. Randy’s hands wandered and combed through jeff’s long dirty blonde hair. Heavy breaths escaped him as he tried his best not to get angry, but goddamn, was it hard. It was hard not to get mad at somebody like Jeff’s father. Sure, he had his dysfunctional-ass household, but at least they owned up to their shit. But not Mr. Woods. Because how dare he do something wrong.
“You want me to fuck ‘em up for ya?” Randy asked.
“No. I don’t. I just wanna stay here with you.” Jeff sighed in response.
“Fine,” Randy huffed, “but if you want, I’ll kick his ass anytime you call. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re a good guy. You’re honey, you work hard, and you try hard. I fuckin’ love you like crazy for that.”
That turned Jeff’s waterworks right back on, and this time Randy joined. They emotionally cried and wailed at one another. In a way, it was therapeutic. To see each other in such a raw and ugly form was relieving. Like a reminder, they were both flesh, blood, and bones. They were real people with real feelings that could empathize.
Once they calmed down, they stared at one another. The air was humid and warm.
“You’re so fuckin’ ugly,” Jeff huffed as Randy gave him a hard squeeze.
“Love you too, babes,” He sniffled with a grin.